Did this chef molest children or was that just a rumor?

[Shell Beau]

You know, the Frugal Gourmet chef, Jeff Smith!

[Hugin]

1. Ask Craig.

;)

[ewagner]

2. Used to watch him

on PBS before there was cable in our remote, Northern Wisconsin City....bought his cookbooks...still use some of the recipes.

I never knew if the allegations were true....

[Shell Beau]

3. I did some research and he is dead now!

[TheMightyFavog]

26. Yeah, Last year, IIRC.

End of Line.

[SOteric]

4. Short of actually being in the room at the time of the alleged events

None of us can ever really know. It's a matter of whom one chooses to believe. Jeff Smith never admitted any harm to the young men who apprenticed with him and the allegations were settled out of court with payments.

It broke him financially and emotionally, and ruined what remained of his career.

[Shell Beau]

5. So what exactly were the allegations?

Did you believe them? I can't hardly remember b/c I was too young!

[madrchsod]

6. here ya g

http://www.current.org/people/peop813s.html
Current.org | "Frugal Gourmet" star settles suit, 1998

[Shell Beau]

7. Wow!

:wow:

[Zuni]

8. fucking A

that is some atrocious shit. My mom used to watch him all the time...I am literally speechless right now.

damn :o

[plcdude]

9. always enjoyed his shows

here is a helpful article http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2001976403_smith10.html

[mondo joe]

10. I know he put moves on a friend of mine in his early 20s when the

frug himself was up there in years.

I don't think he molested CHILDREN per se, but I think he had some highly inappropriate contact with teenage boys.

[Shell Beau]

11. Really? Very interesting...

[mondo joe]

12. I don't mean to excuse whatever he may have done, but I think he

was more of what was once known as a "dirty old man" rather than a molestor.

[Shell Beau]

13. I knew what you meant.

It is just interesting that a friend of yours was affected by this man. Not interesting in a good way, just strange.

[mondo joe]

18. My friend was involved in a fundraising event the Frug was

also involved in. He put his hand on my friend's chest and said "Oh you're a big one, aren't you?" and then chattered on.

It was more eye-rolly than traumatic by far.

[Shell Beau]

19. Yeah but eewww!

Still disturbing.

[tridim]

14. I think it's true.. and I met him once

While in college on the streets of Chicago. He seemed like such a nice man, I guess I was too old for him. This was about 4 months before he was arrested. :scared:

[Shell Beau]

15. Was he arrested?

I thought he was just accused? I am learning a lot today; I also learned that he died last year!

[Bridget Burke]

17. He was never arrested.

Why try to take an abuser off the streets by filing charges? No money in that.

[El Fuego]

16. I had forgotten about that!

I think you're right.

[leftofthedial]

20. he did it

and got busted

and disappeared from public view

[Shell Beau]

21. And is now dead.

[leftofthedial]

22. I still use one of his cookbooks

The Frugal Gourmet cooks with Wine

[Zomby Woof]

23. I can tell you this

When I worked at a B&N in WA state back in '94, he came to our store for a book signing.

When I arrived to clock in, I saw a bottle of gin by the breakroom sink.

I was told it was for Jeff Smith.

He requested the gin straight, in a glass, and drank it while signing his book as if it were water. He finished half the bottle within 2 hours.

The man was LOUD, very red-faced, typical drunk. Customers thought he was funny. I held my tongue, being younger and more inhibited than I am now.

It wouldn't surprise me if the molestation allegations were true... he sure had a creepy vibe. I can testify he is a raging alcoholic.

[Shell Beau]

24. Celebrities try and act like who we want them to be.

I guess he is a prime example...

[Divameow77]

25. I am always skeptical when it happens to so many

but none of them come forward for years, but when one does, they all do. Why didn't anyone say anything when it happened, were they all scared? I'm sure it could have happened though. My mom always liked his show.